FARRER Memorial Agricultural High School will have a much different looking side for Friday morning’s University Shield semi-final with Belmore Boys High School at Farrer’s John Simpson Oval.
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The Chris Oxford-coached side was knocked out of the Schoolboy Cup by Endeavour Sports High in Sydney last week, beaten 50-nil.
Many of the Farrer side also play for the North Tamworth Under 18 side in the Group 4 competition and they also experienced a loss on the weekend, beaten 10-6 by the Gunnedah Bulldogs in their final-round Group 4 match at Gunnedah’s Kitchener Park.
“We’ll have a much different side for the Uni Shield semi,” Oxford said this week.
The main worry centres on skipper Tom Say.
“He copped a knock and a bit of concussion over at Gunnedah,” Oxford said.
“We’ll monitor him this week to ensure he has no ill-effects.”
Say is an integral player in the side, helping steer the side from halfback with young five-eighth Josh Bermingham and hooker Cory Manicaros.
Saturday’s North Tamworth Under 18 loss to Gunnedah meant the Bears, last year’s junior premiers, will play West Lions in this Sunday’s minor semi while Narrabri and Gunnedah will play in the major semi a week later.
The Farrer connection also stretches further, with former Farrer schoolboys, Callum Hayne and Zac Russ, leading the Group 4 first grade tryscoring list.
Hayne, who played Country Under 19s this year, leads the way with 20 touchdowns from Russ (18) and tall Bear centre Brad Marshall (17).
Marshall sits third with West Lions flyer Dylan Lake and Narrabri Blue Michael Skillicorn, who have also crossed for 17 tries this season.
Lake and Skillicorn match up in Sunday’s first grade semi final at Scully Park, the Blues coming off a 66-26 training run win over Oxley Diggers and the Lions losing 48-40 to Wee Waa at Wee Waa on Sunday.
